Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

underwire

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.25 in modern English

Syllables: un-der-wire
IPA

13

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A semicircular wire placed in a bra to support the breasts.

noun

A bra that includes such wires.

verb

To fix such a wire in place.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Indo-European *-tér Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér Proto-Indo-European *h₂én Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-? Proto-Indo-European *-dʰi ? Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dʰí Proto-Indo-European *-ér Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dʰér Proto-Germanic *under Proto-West Germanic *undar Old English under- Middle English under- English under- English wire English underwire From under- + wire.

Inflected Forms

underwires (plural) underwires (present, singular) underwiring (participle, present) underwired (participle, past) underwired (past)

Rhymes With

fire higher entire prior require desire empire wire hire acquire retire buyer

Questions

What does underwire mean?: A semicircular wire placed in a bra to support the breasts.
Where does underwire come from?: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Indo-European *-tér Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér Proto-Indo-European *h₂én Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-? Proto-Indo-European *-dʰi ? Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dʰí Proto-Indo-European *-ér Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dʰér Proto-Germanic *under Proto-West Germanic *undar Old English under- Middle English under- English under- English wire English underwire From under- + wire.

How to pronounce underwire

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